Clip arrangement for portable electronic apparatus housing assembly

Abstract

A housing assembly for a mobile telephone comprises a window panel and a front cover, with a clip arrangement which assists in preventing the common problem of the window panel falling out of the front cover. The clip arrangement comprises a rigid clip on the window panel which engages with a beam integrally moulded in the cover. This allows use of a low profile clip which does not extend into the telephone assembly, so permitting strong connections to be made in small assemblies.

1. A housing assembly for portable electronic apparatus comprising first and second housing portions, the first portion including a substantially rigid clip and the second portion including a receiving arrangement for the clip, the receiving arrangement comprising a displaceable element integrally moulded with the second portion, and the clip comprising means for displacing the element of the second portion, and means for retaining the element between the first portion and the displacing means, and wherein the element comprises an elongate beam defined by first and second elongate slots in the second portion and wherein the first elongate slot is configured to receive the clip and the second elongate slot is configured to receive the beam on displacement by the clip. 
   
   
     2. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the beam includes a chamfered edge to facilitate passage of the clip over it. 
   
   
     3. An assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the beam is reinforced in the region of the chamfered edge. 
   
   
     4. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein only a part of the first elongate slot is capable of receiving the clip. 
   
   
     5. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a clip head and a clip body, the head, body and the first housing portion forming a receptacle for receiving the beam. 
   
   
     6. An assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the beam includes a recess for receiving the clip head. 
   
   
     7. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are substantially planar. 
   
   
     8. An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the clip extends substantially perpendicularly from the plane of the first portion. 
   
   
     9. An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein, in the assembled state, the clip does not protrude substantially beyond the plane of the second portion. 
   
   
     10. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a window panel for a mobile telephone and the second portion comprises a front housing for the mobile telephone. 
   
   
     11. An assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising tabs on the window panel for engaging with tab receiving slots in the front housing. 
   
   
     12. An assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the window panel includes a window for viewing a display of a mobile telephone, and the tabs and the clip are located on opposite sides of the window. 
   
   
     13. A method of assembling a housing assembly comprising first and second housing portions, the first portion including a substantially rigid clip and the second portion including a receiving arrangement for the clip, the receiving arrangement comprising a displaceable element integrally moulded with the second portion wherein said element is defined by first and second elongate slots in the second portion, and the clip comprising means for displacing the element of the second portion, and means for retaining the element between the first portion and the displacing means, the method comprising moving the first portion towards the second portion such that the displacing means on the clip of the first portion is received in the first elongate slot and displaces the element of the second portion into the second elongate slot and then retains the element between the first portion and the displacing means. 
   
   
     14. A mobile telephone having a housing assembly comprising first and second housing portions, the first portion including a substantially rigid clip and the second portion including a receiving arrangement for the clip, the receiving arrangement comprising a displaceable element integrally moulded with the second portion wherein said element comprises an elongate beam defined by first and second elongate slots in the second portion, and the clip comprising means for displacing the element of the second portion wherein the first elongate slot is configured to receive the clip and the second elongate slot is configured to receive the beam on displacement by the clip, and means for retaining the element between the first portion and the displacing means. 
   
   
     15. A mobile telephone according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second portions are substantially planar. 
   
   
     16. A mobile telephone: according to  claim 15 , wherein the clip extends substantially perpendicularly from the plane of the first portion. 
   
   
     17. A mobile telephone: according to  claim 15 , wherein, in the assembled state, the clip does not protrude substantially beyond the plane of the second portion. 
   
   
     18. A mobile telephone: according to  claim 4 , wherein the first portion comprises a window panel for a mobile telephone and the second portion comprises a front housing for the mobile telephone. 
   
   
     19. A mobile telephone according to  claim 18 , further comprising tabs on the window panel for engaging with tab receiving slots in the front housing. 
   
   
     20. A mobile telephone according to  claim 19 , wherein the window panel includes a window for viewing a display of a mobile telephone, and the tabs and the clip are located on opposite sides of the window.